Can rice farming ever be climate friendly? | CNA Correspondent

Traditional rice farming is a major climate problem. Flooded paddy fields release methane, a greenhouse gas 27 times more potent than carbon dioxide. But a Singapore-led project in Indonesia is testing a new way forward. By changing the way rice is planted and grown, researchers say emissions can be cut by up to half, without hurting farmers’ incomes. Arnold Gay speaks to CNA Senior Correspondent Saifulbahri Ismail about the science behind low-methane rice, the challenges of changing long-held farming practices and if consumers will go for a more climate-friendly grain. Highlights: 00:49 Why is rice production such a stubborn climate problem? 04:31 Impressions of the trial site rice field in Grobogan, Indonesia 06:53 How to cut emissions while growing better crops 10:53 Getting farmers on board was a challenge 14:05 Benefits of the new agricultural method 15:09 Will farmers go back to traditional rice farming? 16:40 Plans to scale up adoption across Asia 20:21 Can this be done in other parts of Asia? Subscribe to our channel here: https://cna.asia/youtubesub Visit our website: https://cna.asia Download our app: https://cna.asia/app Get our editors' picks of stories via chat apps: Telegram: https://cna.asia/telegram WhatsApp: https://cna.asia/whatsapp Follow us on these platforms: https://www.facebook.com/channelnewsasia https://www.instagram.com/channelnewsasia https://www.tiktok.com/@channelnewsasia